Chapter 698

“Grandpa… you’re not thinking clearly, are you?” Flora stared at the old man, her mind still refusing to accept the cruel reality before her. “You wouldn’t really be this heartless… right?” Her voice trembled slightly, clinging to the last shred of hope she had. Beside her, Celeste and Zack also looked up, their eyes filled with silent pleading. They desperately wanted to believe this was nothing more than a passing fit of anger— Something that would fade. Something that could still be reversed. But Grandpa Whales didn’t even look at them. His expression remained grave, unshaken. Instead, his gaze shifted— Landing squarely on Simon. The one person he trusted most. Sensing it, Simon lifted his eyes and met his grandfather’s gaze calmly, his expression steady, unreadable. “From now on…” the old man began, his voice weak, broken by intermittent coughs, “everything… will be in your hands.” He paused, struggling to breathe. “As for these three…” he continued, his tone hardening despite his